The Department for Education (DfE) has invested over £170,000 in developing the data, AI, and digital skills of its staff over the last three years as the UK government continues to place AI at the forefront of its digital transformation process.
The data was retrieved under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and analysed by the Parliament Street think tank, observing the data training spending of the Department over the past three financial years.
Data is playing an increasingly vital role particularly as AI is being rolled out throughout government departments, with 70% cent of government bodies are already piloting or planning to use AI, highlighting the urgent need for high-quality, structured, and secure data. DfE is responding to this demand with a bold increase in both staffing and spending.
In 2022/23, over 1,450 staff took part in courses covering from statistics and business analysis to digital design and data visualisation with an investment of £44,500.
Between the period 2024/25, more than 350 staff trained in building specialist capabilities in areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and data science, alongside digital tools like Microsoft Power Platform.
This progression shows a shift from broad foundational skills towards specialised, future-focused learning in data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced analytics.
Stuart Harvey, CEO of Datactics: “The government’s investment in data and digital skills is a critical move at a time when high-quality, well-governed data underpins everything from policy design to service delivery. The ability to manage, cleanse, and interpret data accurately is no longer a back-office function, it’s central to operational efficiency and public trust.”
“What’s particularly encouraging is the shift towards advanced training in areas such as AI, Cloud platforms, and data science. These skills go beyond simply handling data, they enable staff to automate manual processes, detect patterns, and generate actionable insights at speed and scale.”
“This kind of targeted, forward-looking training is what will allow the public sector to lead in delivering smarter, safer, and more responsive services built on strong data foundations.”
A spokesperson from FDM Group said: “These figures highlight a growing recognition across government of the importance of advanced digital skills. The shift towards specialist training in areas like cybersecurity, AI, and Cloud engineering is a positive step, but ongoing upskilling must remain a priority if services are to stay resilient and trustworthy.
“Our Whitepaper shows that 54% of organisations now expect AI skills to be required in all graduate roles, yet only 6% believe their teams are equipped to apply AI effectively. This gap underscores the urgent need for greater investment in training.
“The future of AI success lies in human oversight. AI doesn’t replace people, instead it amplifies those who are equipped to use it wisely. To build a truly digitally confident workforce, government and industry must work hand in hand to ensure individuals gain the skills they need to use and oversee AI with confidence.”
